Hobbies And Interests
Black Widow
You can recognize the black widow spider by the distinct orange-red hour glass shape on the underside of the female. Its body is glossy, black and round. The bite of the black widow can be identified initially by red swelling that is painful to touch. In four to six hours, telltale symptoms develop, including nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, difficulty in breathing, headache and muscle rigidity. Immediate medical attention is needed if bitten.
Brown Widow
The brown widow belongs to the same family as the black widow. The main difference between the two is color. While the black widow is glossy black, the brown widow's hourglass shape on its underside is yellow-orange. Fortunately, brown widows do not readily attack; they would rather play dead when they feel threatened. Its bite is also much milder than that of the black widow, though intensely painful.
Brown Recluse
This light brown spider is characterized by a distinct violin shape on its upper body. It is oval with long, spindly legs. The bite from the brown recluse may initially go undetected because it is painless. However, within 16 hours, a painful blister develops at the site which, if not treated, could develop into an open ulcer in about two days. The infection is so serious that, if left untreated, it can cause kidney damage and serious blood cell damage.
Golden Silk Spider
Because of its yellowish, elongated shape, the golden silk spider is also known as the banana spider. Its body is a little larger than a common garden spider, and it would rather stay away from people. While this is not a poisonous species, it can cause a painful bite.
Other Spiders
There are many other spider species found in southern Mississippi that are not as dangerous or harmful, such as the spiny-backed orb weaver spider, the huntsman spider and the running spider. Every night, the spiny-backed orb weaver weaves a new circular web. This spider measures no longer than 10 millimeters. Its colors include black, orange, red, white and yellow and its name is derived from the spines it has along the sides. The huntsman spider resembles a crab, preys on insects and makes its home on trees. They do sometimes enter homes in search of insects. The running spider is among the common spiders found in Mississippi. These spiders do not weave webs to catch prey; they rely on their agility and speed to capture food. They have a red head and white hind legs.